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Book nominations sought for 2015-16 Penn State Reads program

Book nominations sought for 2015-16 Penn State Reads program

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Readers from across the Penn State community are invited to submit book nominations for the 2015-16 Penn State Reads program.

The program, launched in 2013, runs complementary to Penn State’s New Student Orientation and supplies each first-year University Park campus student with a copy of the chosen book to facilitate a shared experience. Several other Penn State campuses also are participating in a pilot of the program using the same text.

Penn State Reads aims to encourage intellectual engagement within and beyond the classroom, stimulate critical thinking and foster a deeper connection to Penn State’s mission and core values. Concepts are introduced to incoming students at New Student Orientation during the summer, and events based upon the book’s themes, including a visit by the author, are planned throughout the school year. All students, faculty and staff are encouraged to read the book and participate in the events.

Book nominations for the 2015-16 school year can be sent to pennstatereads@psu.edu and are due by Feb. 14. Anyone is welcome to make a submission.

“We’re looking for a book that can engage the student body and help instill some of the core values of Penn State,” said Jacqueline Edmondson, associate vice president and associate dean for Undergraduate Education, who is co-chair with Barry Bram of Penn State Reads. “We were really pleased with the nominations last year. They came from all across the University.”

After nominations are received, the Penn State Reads steering committee will narrow the submissions to a short list then send out a call for volunteer readers to narrow the list to a final book. Anyone who would like to be a reader can volunteer by emailing pennstatereads@psu.edu or by including a note when submitting book nominations.